Saturday, January 9, 2016

Christmas

We've had some snow, and our friend Kate took Anja and the boys for a cross-country lesson.  Cross country skiing may be too unpredictable here to make fast progress, but they loved it!  
Thanks Kate


Leif continues to be able to relax anywhere, as long as he has his blanket


Christmas bird count on Power Creek


We got our tree in the lagoon this year, and it was a perfect expedition for us







The weather the week before and during Christmas itself was truly magical.  Full moon, fantastic snow, glittery frost, high tides.  A real fairy-tale.  


Cookie making



Peter is now super helpful at shoveling.  
Good to direct that energy towards something useful!







Hard to tell in this photo, but there are Christmas lights over the lagoon bridge




Cookie making party with the Smyke girls and all their friends.  Lucky boys!


Christmas morning.. the boys are looking at how Santa Mouse used the ladder on their fire truck to climb the Christmas tree

We had a social Christmas Eve, with two parties and church.  But, Christmas Day itself was quieter. 





And, skiing.  The boys spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on the bunny hill.  Sledding and skiing.  We were even treated to champagne by another family on Christmas day.  It was perfect




Home for hot chocolate (with whipped cream) and books after skiing



Our annual boxing day adventure was wet!  But, we suited up anyway and headed up Ibeck Creek, pulling a sled through the slush for our traditional macaroni cheese cook-out.  


Say "hypothermia"!  

Only joking... we were all happy and warm, but it was a rediculously slushy picnic!











A quick stop at the sandpile to try out Grandpa John's new trucks


After a week of rain and wind, the skies cleared and I had a wonderful solo hike up the ski hill while Dustin and the boys skied the bunny hill.  With the snow-maker, the bunny hill has survived all the rain.  Thank goodness!



There has been a core group of 5-10 kids on the bunny hill for the last few weeks, and they're all fairly self-sufficient.  Peter will happily go up and down.. up and down...for 3-4hrs.. and still not want to leave.  And, we go home with peaceful and tired boys.  Easy parenting days!


Jumps!


Alaganik cook out with three families, eight kids (7 boys!) and eight toy swords...



We're now shifting gear; packing for our trip to Florida, England, and then to North Dakota en route back to Alaska in mid March.  

Sunglasses are packed, and we're excited to use them!

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